Championing School Mental Health at Parliament of Uganda Mental Health Awareness Camp

We joined government, development partners, mental health professionals and civil society leaders at the Parliament of Uganda for a two-day Mental Health Awareness Camp held under the theme, "Advancing Mental Health Policy Through Action." The event provided a national platform for dialogue, learning and collaboration aimed at strengthening Uganda's mental health systems and translating policy commitments into meaningful action.

Our Executive Director Dr. John Mary Mitana Vianney,participated in a high-level panel discussion titled "Strengthening Child Protection, School Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Systems." The panel explored how evidence, partnerships and policy can work together to improve mental health outcomes for children and young people, particularly within education settings.

During the discussion, our Executive Director highlighted how JMERC's Resilient and Empowered Adolescents through Social and Emotional Learning (REASEL) and Resilience and Social Emotional Learning (RSEL) Programmes are helping to build resilient learners through evidence-based social and emotional learning, school mental health and psychosocial support interventions.

Drawing on research and implementation experience, he demonstrated how the programme aligns with Uganda's national education and health policy frameworks while contributing practical lessons for strengthening child protection and learner wellbeing.

A key focus of the discussion was the need to move beyond isolated interventions towards a systems-based approach that embeds mental health within education. Participants explored policy recommendations for scaling school mental health nationally, including strengthening teacher capacity, expanding psychosocial support services, promoting early identification and intervention, and investing in evidence-informed programming that reaches learners where they are.

The discussions reaffirmed the importance of partnerships in driving sustainable change. JMERC continues to work closely with the World Health Organization and Butabika National Mental Health Hospital,, theMinistry of Education and Sports Uganda,Makerere University, the Ministry of Gender,Labour and Social Development and the Ministry of Health and other partners to strengthen school mental health systems through research, technical collaboration, capacity building and the integration of mental health and psychosocial support into schools and communities.

As mental health continues to gain prominence within Uganda's education and public health agenda, JMERC remains committed to generating evidence that informs policy, designing interventions that respond to the realities of children and adolescents, and working alongside government and partners to create safe, inclusive and supportive learning environments.

Improving school mental health requires collective action. Policymakers, educators, health professionals, development partners, parents and communities all have a role to play in ensuring that every learner has access to the support they need to thrive.

At JMERC, we believe that investing in children's mental health is an investment in better learning, stronger communities and a more resilient future. We therefore call for:

• Greater investment in school mental health and psychosocial support services.
• Stronger collaboration between the education and health sectors to deliver integrated support for learners.
• Increased use of evidence and research to inform policy and scale interventions that work.
• Continued commitment to child protection and learner wellbeing as fundamental pillars of quality education.

Together, we can move from policy to practice and ensure that every child and young person has the opportunity to learn, grow and flourish in environments that support both their education and their wellbeing.

Learn more about JMERC's work in strengthening education systems and promoting adolescent wellbeing by following our journey and partnering with us to advance evidence-driven solutions for children and young people across Uganda and beyond.